ORDER N0. c5838
RDORT R RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF
THE HILL COUNTRY AIRBORNE ASSOCIATION,
ALAMO SILVER WINGS AIRBORNE ASSOCIRTION
AND ALAMO CHAPTER 15 SPECIRL FORCES ASSOCIATION
IN THEIR EFFORT IN MAKING APPLICATION
TO THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION TO RENRME
THE KERRVILLE V.R. MEDICAL CENTER AS THE
ROY p. PENRVIDEZ V. A. MEDICAL CENTER
On this the ~Eth day of April 1999, ~_tpon motion made by
Commissioner Gr^iffin, seconded by Commissioner- Williams,
the Court unanimously approved by a vote of 4-0-0, adopting
a Resolution in sixppor•t of changing the name of the N.er•r•ville
V. A. Medical Center- to the Roy R. Benavidez V. A. Medical
Centers, and for-war ding same to the Texas Congressional
delegation.
CITRTION
The Gr•esident of the United States of America, a~_~thorized by
Rct of Congress, Mar^ch 3, 1863, has away^ded in the name of
ti-~e Cor~gr^ess the Medal of Honor• to:
MRSTER SERGEANT ROY P. BENRVIDEZ
UNITED STRTES ARMY (RETIRED)
for• conspicuous gallantry and intrecidity in action at the
r•i=_k of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
On v May 1968, Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant)
Ray P. Benavidez, distinguished himself by a series of daring
and extremely valorous actions while assigned to Detachment
P-56, 5th Special Forces Group (Air^borne), 1st Special Forces,
Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of May 2, 1968, a 1'~ man
Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopter^s
in a dense .jungle ar^ea west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam, to gather^
intelligence information about confirmed large scale enemy
activity. This area was contr^olled and r•o~.itinely patrolled by
the North Vietnamese Rr•my. Rfter^ a short period of ne or
on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and
r^egiaested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted
extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small
arms and anti-air^craft fire. Sergeant Benavidez was at the
For•wat•d Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the oper^ation by
r^adio when these helicopters ret~_trned to off-load wounded crew
members and to access aircraft damage. Sergeant Benavidez
voluntarily boarded a r•etur^ning aircraft to assist in another-
extraction attempt. Realizing that all the team members were
either^ dead or• wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone,
he directed the air^cr^aft to a nearby clearing where he .jumped
fr^om the hovering helicopter, and r^an approximately 75 meters
under- withering small arms fire to the crippled team. Pr^ior^
to r^eaching the team's position, he was wo~.~nded in his eight
leg, face and head. Despite these painful in.j~.~ries, he took
char^g e, repositioned the team member^s and directed their- fire
to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the
loading of wounded and dead team members. He then threw smoke
canisters to direct aircraft to the team's position. Despite
his sever^e wounds and ~.inder^ intense enemy fire, he carried and
dragged half of the wo~.inded team members to the waiting
air^cr^aft. He then provided pr^otective fire by r^unning
alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up classified
documents on the dead team leader. When he reached the team
leader's body, Sergeant Benavidez was severely wounded by
small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his
back. Rt nearly the same moment, the air^cr^aft pilot was
mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in
extremely cr^itical condition due to his wounds, Sergeant
Benavidez secured the classified documents and made his way
back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the
overturned aircr-aft, and gathered the stunned sur'vivor's into a
defensive perimeter. Under- increasing automatic weapons and
grenade fir^e, he moved ar^o~.tnd the perimeter- distributing water
and ammunition to his weary men, r•einstilling in them a will
to live and fight. Facing a build-up of enemy opposition
with a beleaguered team, Sergeant Benavide= muster^ed his
strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed
the fire from suppor-ting gunships to super^ess the enemy's fire
and so per^m it another- extraction attempt. He was wounded
again in his thigh by small arms fire while administering
first aid to a wounded team member-.just before another'
extraction helicopter- was able to land. His indomitable
spirit kept him going as he began to fer'r'y his comrades to the
craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed
from behind 6y an enemy soldier^. Ire the ensuing hand-to-hand
combat, he si.istained additional wounds to his head and arms
before killing his adver'sar'y. He then continued under-
devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter^. Upon
reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy
soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that
prevented the aircraft door- gunner- from firing i_ipon them.
With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the
perimeter- to ensur^e that all classified material had been
collected or destr-Dyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded.
Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds
and loss of blood did he allow himself to be p~_illed into the
extraction air^cr-aft. Sergeant Benavide~'s gallant choice to
join voluntarily his comrades who wer^e in critical straits, to
expose himself constantly to withering fir^e, and his refusal
to be stopped despite n~.imer•o~_~s sever^e wounds, saved the lives
of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership,
tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in
the face of overwhelming odds were i,n keeping with the highest
traditions of the military service, and reflects the ~_itmost
credit on him and the United States Rrmy.
COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST
PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND NINE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE
REVIEWED BY THE COURT.
MADE BY: William H. Williams
b
MEETING DATE: April ~ 1999
SUBJECT: (PLEASE BE SPECIFIC)
OFFICE: Commissioners' Court
TIME PREFERRED:
Consider and discuss supporting of the Hill Country Airborne Association, Alamo Silver Wing:
Airborne Association and Alamo Chapter 15 Special Forces Association in their effort in makinc
application to the Veterans Administration to rename the Kerrville VA Medical Center as the
Roy P. Benavidez VA Medical Center.
EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON)
NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT:
_.iTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION:
IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE:
Commissioner Pct. #2/Bennie Hyde
Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapte
551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows:
Meeting scheduled for Mondays:
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY:
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON:

All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine ff adequate information has bee:
prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court Meetings. Your cooperation will b
appreciated and contribute towazds you request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rule
Adopted by Commissioners' Court.
5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday.
HILL COUNTRY VETERANS COUNCIL
William C. Bacon
B/Gen. USAF Ret
205 Kendall Falls Road
Comfort, Tx 78013
March 19, 1999
Fred Henneke
Kerr County Judge
800 Main Street
Kerrville, Texas 78028
Dear Judge Henneke,
The Hill Country Veterans Council in concert with the Hill Country Airborne
Association, Alamo Silver Wings Airborne Association and Alamo Chapter 15
Special Forces Association have requested Congressman Lamar Smith make
application to the Veterans Administration to rename the Kerrville VA Medical
Center as the ROY P. BENAVIDEZ VA MEDICAL CENTER.
Master Sergeant Benavidez is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient whose
citation and photo is enclosed to provide you additional information. Master
Sergeant Benavidez passed away 29 November 1998. In addition to his service
duty, Benavidez spent many of his retirement years in support of veterans and
civic affairs.
In addition to contacting Congressman Smith, we have solicited the support of
Senators Gramm and Hutchison and Congressmen Gonzalez, Bonilla, and
Rodriguez. We believe that we also need to add the support of our local, county
and state elected leaders to add credence to this request. It is for this reason we
ask for your support.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me at
896-2015 or call Sherry Cunningham at 896-1155.
--,
Sincerely,
~~~
Bennie Hyde, Member
Hill Country Veterans Council
Chi#tt#inn
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, Mazclr 3, 1863, has awarded in the
name of the Congress the Medal ofHonor to
~Ctt~fzr~~r~ettn# ~ng ~. ~entttri~f;=
~ttifa~~stttfeg~rm~r ~c~KPfirPb~
for conspicuous gallanny and intrepidity in action at the risk of lris life above and beyond the call of duty
On 2 May 1968, Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. Benavidez, distinguished himself by a series of daring
and extremely valorous actions while assigned to Detaclunent B-56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Ist
Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of May 2, 1968, a 12 man Special Forces Reconnaissance
Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam, to gather intelligence information
about confirmed large scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North
Vietnamese Army. Afrer a short period of ne or. on the ground, the team rnet heavy enemy resistance, and
requested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense
enemy small anus and anti-aircraft fire. Sergeant Benavidez was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh
monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load wounded crew members and to assess
aircraft damage. Sergeant Benavidez voluntarily boazded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt.
Realizing that all the learn members were eittrer dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, he directed
the aircraft to a nearby clearing where he jwnped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters
under withering small anns fire to the crippled learn. Prior to reaching fire team's position, he was wounded in his
right leg, face and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioned the team rnernbers and directed
their fue to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead [earn rnernbers. He
then threw smoke canister's to direct aircraft to the team's position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense
enemy fue, he carried and dragged half of the wounded Yearn members to the waiting aircraft. He then provided
protective £rre by running alongside dre aunraft as it moved to pick up classified docwnents on the dead team leader.
When he reached the team leader's body, Sergeant Benavidez was severely wounded by small anns fue in the
abdomen and grenade fragments in lus back. At nearly the same moment, the avcraft pilot was mortally wounded,
and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his wounds, Sergeant Benavidez secured
the classified docwnents and made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out ofthe overturned
aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing automatic weapons and
grenade fire, he moved azound the perimeter distributing water and armnunition to his weary men, reinstalling in them
a will to live and fight. Facing abuild-up of enemy opposition with a beleaguered learn, Sergeant Benavidez
mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fue fi'om supporting ganships to suppress
the enemy's fire arrd so permit another extraction attempt. He was wounded again in his thigh by small anns fire
while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction ]relicopter was able to land.
His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the
wounded, he was clubbed from behind by an enemy soldier. In the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, he sustained
additional wounds tohisheadandarmsbeforekillinghisadversary. Hethencontinuedunderdevastatingfiretocany
the woundedtothehelicopter. Uponreachingtheaircraft,hespottedandkilledtwoenemysoldierswhowererushing
the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining,
he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classi fled material had been toll ected or destroyed, and to bring
in the remaining wounded. Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss ofblood did he
allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Sergeant Benavidez's gallant choice to jour voluntarily Iris
comrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering fire, and his refusal to be stopped
despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious
devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest
traditions ofthe military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Anny.
KERR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURTY
Instructions:
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